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Jay Wyatt, team supervisor for an air services company, was working at the airport when he heard a “loud popping noise” as the plane travelled down the runway.

“When an engine impacts something it makes a loud popping noise, it throws the engine out of sync,” he said.

“Most of the time birds damage the fan blades. I heard that noise. It then started to make a sound like a loud prop aircraft.

“The aircraft was rolling down the runway at that point. The pilot wouldn’t have been in a position to stop. It took off but because of the amount of air rushing through the engine with the impact it caused a really loud popping noise.

“The passengers definitely would have heard it.”

(Image: Jay Wyatt)

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Mr Wyatt saw fire engines meet the plane when it returned to the airport an hour later. He said he has since seen the aircraft, still stationed at Heathrow, and said there is clear damage to the fan belt.

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Richard Simmonds was in his house in Rickman Crescent in Addlestone when he heard the plane approaching overhead, likening the noise to a “tractor”.

“I was having something to eat and thought, what the hell is that racket?,” said the 54-year-old. “It went right over the house. It sounded like a tractor. I know the aircraft sounds well and this didn’t sound right.”

A spokesman for Delta Airlines confirmed the plane had returned to the airport after take-off “due to a suspected bird-strike”.